Elevator control system



Oct. 23, 1934. PQDOSIN 1,977,918

ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 29, 1930 INVENTO)? 0 cb/mPadasuz "3 BY a; g f I ATTORNEY Patented on; 23, 1934 1 977 91 fomrso STATES Parser rice 1,977,913 ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM John Podosin,yhicago, lilg assignor to 'C. J.

Anderson & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 29, 1930,-Serial No. 440,045

11 Claims. (Cl. 187--29) The present invention relates in general to tors, either of the freight or passenger type, it elevator-control systems. 7 I Y is the present practice to provide a gate or barrier One of the objects ofmy invention is tcproon the elevator car in addition to the hatchway ivide improved leveling means for leveling the doors, in orderto obtain a maximum degree of 1 floor of the elevator car with the landing floor. safety. Elevators employing push button auto- Anotherobject is to provide leveling means matio operation are likewise furnished with this that may be manually operated to cause the feature. Furthermore, state laws and municipal car to level itself with the floor 'even whenthe ordinances designed to insure the safety of eleelevator doors are opened. 7 vator passengers and operators, provide that the. Another object is to provide leveling means elevator control mechanism be so designed and of this character which will only be effective arranged that the elevator cannot be moved in Within a restricted zone near the floor. the event the elevator gate or hatchway door is i flnother object is to provide leveling means open. In order to comply with these laws and which by the operation of the controlling push. to meet the demand of elevator trade, it has "'15 buttons will move the 'car either in an up or becomea universal practice to provide elevator down direction, tobring it in a plane with the control systems which will function in strict acassooiatedfioor, cordance with these rules. Since the elevator further object is to provide an improved gate and sometimes the hatchway door obscures leveling circuit that while operative when the the'fioor selected iromthe vision of the passenger 40 elevator hatchway doors are open adjacent the 01 operator, his task in manipulating the elevator associated floor will be ineflective in the event for properly levelling the same with respect to th m 1; within the leveling zone. i the adjoining floor is rendered difficult. It is A still further object of my invention" is t therefore desirable to'provide an arrangement provide a leveling circuit of this character which whereby t elevator a d at y (1001's 1 2.5 is adapted to co-operate with any type of elemay be opened so as to enable the passenger vator control system, car switch, push button or or operator to observe'the position of the elevator fully automatic. a I with respect to the floor selected and at the same "There are other objects of my invention, which e prov de mean for acc y moving the together with the foregoing will be described in elevator so as to raise or. lower it into proper 80 the detailed specification which is to follow, taken level with the floor. Although full automatic into conjunction with the accompanying drawp r n of elevators has been Provided in an ing; forming a part thereof: effort'to relieve the passenger or operator of the In elevator control systems where no special necessity'fol ev n the EIQVQJJOI, V a O in leveling means are provided it is always difficult level brought abo y Shifting of ads i unto obtain level elevator stops. Someof the facd g and loading, flu u t in line Voltage tors influencing this which are operative both and chang in brake dj t ts Ca not be 8110- in'manu'al andautomatic elevator operations are c ssfully ac modat d t y he variations in the elevator load, fluctuations of p sent v t onp s means p b in a n vgltage imprgperbrake adjugtmentg limited zone while the elevator'gate and hatch- .40 Many attempts'have been made to provide auto Way (1001' isopen so that the pa enger can ob- V matic leveling means on elevators d t ati serve the direction and necessity for leveling the leveling systems of this character are always very car'withoull in any W reducing the us S y complicated and expensive; in addition to being features required for elevator operation. This a cause of considerable maintenance'expense. 11 l d I/'..D V a leveling y m "45 A' possible solution to these difliculties hasjbeen as an adjun t to th usual a at OperatiOn advocated which employs a pair of leveling push d ye retaining fety factors 01? a p button buttonsin car for moving theelevator at a elevator-"system. 5-F t pr ntinrelatively slow speed in either direction to bring vention designedto accomplish the results cited it level with the floor. This method requires a V y nfi a 00st, w eby the major ob- V T:jE that thejhatchw'ay'doors and the car gate be 'J'ection-to leveling systems in small installations closed, which renders it very difiicult to level is oved." as the floor level .cannotbe seen and also does My-invention eliminates allvthese disadvantages. not provide for variations in loading and un- In practicing myinvention, I provide a switch loading at a single floor; r in the elevatorcar whose special function isto "55 lnntheconstruction and installation of elevabring theleveling mechanism into play. 'Adjano cent each floor in the hatchway I provide a pair of cams, one above and one below, of suflicient length to define the leveling zone. In addition, a switch is mounted on the elevator car and is adapted to be operated by the cams. This equipment in addition to theregular elevator control equipment permits the elevator to be levelled in an exceedingly simple and expeditious manner.

Referring now to the drawing comprising a single sheet, I have shown by means of the usual conventional diagrams sufiicient of the apparatus and circuits to'enable my invention to be readily explained and understood. a

The reference character 1, designates the three line conductors which are employed to supply current to the elevator where three phase alterhating current is employed.

Reference characters 2, '3, 4, and'5 designates alternating current relays of any usual or well known type. These relays are provided with a number'of contacts whichare adapted to be opened and closed when the relay isenergized. Therelays 2, 3 and 5 are the up and down direction relays and the motor connecting relay respectively. The hoisting motor is indicated diagrammatically. at M and has associated with it a .brake of the usual type, whose coil 6 is energized in parallel with one phase of the motor. I A number of resistors '7, 8,9 and 10 are employed for reducing the current flow in the circuit of certain of the relays under certain conditions. An up limit switch 11 of any usual or well known type is mounted in the hatchway as is the down limit switch 12. On the intermediate floor a switch 13 is mounted in the hatchway. This switch isof the double throw type and closes one of its sets of contacts when the elevator passes it in one direction and the other set of contacts when the elevator passes it in the other direction. When the elevator is at the intermediate fioor both contacts are open.

. Reference characters 14 to 16 inclusive, indicate switches that are operated by the hatchway doors at each floor and maybe of any usual'or well known type. The gate switch 1'7 may also be of any usual or well known type. Push buttons 18 to 20 inclusive, are mounted on the various floors, there being one push button for each fioor.. In the elevator car a plurality of push buttons or switches 21, 22 and 23 aremounted for control of operation of the elevator. An emergency stop switch 24 is also provided in the car. A switch 25 is mounted on the top of the car and has a projectingroller 26 that is adapted to contact with cams mounted adjacent to each floor in the hatchway. These cams are for leveling purposes and there being one cam above the floor and one below. In the intermediate position the switch 25 is opened. The switch 13 is mounted in the hatchway and is adapted to be operated by a cam on the car.

While I have illustrated my invention in con- 'nection with an elevator control system for a three story building, it will be appreciated that it may ber eadily adapted to a'building having a; greater number of stories or elevator stops.

Having briefly described the apparatus shown in the drawing, I shall now explain its detailed operation. In order to do this, it will be assumed that the elevator is standing at the first floor and that a passenger enters the car andafterclosing thehatchway door and the elevator gate, desires to ascend to the third floor; he indicates his intention by pushing the push button 21. A'circuit is thereuponcompleted forthe up direction relay 2 over a path that may be traced from the supply conductor 30, relay 2, resistor 8, contacts of push button 21, hatchway door switches 14, 15 and 16 in series, elevator gate switch 1'7, emergency stop switch 24 to the supply conductor 31. The up direction relay 2 is energized over this circuit and operates to complete a circuit for the relay 5, by bringing the contact making member 33 into engagement with its associated contact member and connects the conductor 31 to the circuit of the motor M at the contact making member 34 and its associated contact member and prepares another point in the motor circuit at the contact making member 35 and its associated contact member. The operation of the contact making member 36 serves to establish a locking circuit for the relay 2 over a path that may be traced from the supply conductor 30, relay 2, third floor limit switch 11, resistor 9, contact member and contact making member 36, normally closed contacts 37,, hatchway door switches 14, 15 and 16 in series, elevator gate switch 17, emergency stop switch 24 to supply conductor 31. The relay 2 is thus maintained energized after the push button 21 is released. The circuit ofthe relay 5 extends from the supply conductor 30, contact member and associated contact making member 33, relay 5, hatchway door switches 14, 15 and 16 in series, elevator gate switch 17, emergency stop switch 24 to the supply conductor 31. The relay 5 is energized over this circuit and operates to complete the circuit of the motor M at the contact making members 38 and 39. Themotor M is energized and operates to bring about the movement of the car in the upward direction. The brake magnet 6 is energized in parallel with one phase of the motor circuit and serving to release the brake. The opening of the normally closed contacts 40 0f the relay 5 serves to disable the floor push buttons 18, 19 and 20, as well as the circuit of the intermediate, floor push button 22 in the cab.

The elevator continues in an upward directionuntil the limit switch 11 is opened, whereupon the locking circuit of the relay 2 is opened at the switch 11 and this relay is deenergized to open the circuit of the motor M and also the circuit of the relay 5, relays 2 and 5 are immediately deenergized. The de-energization of the brake magnet 6 brings the elevator car to a stop approximately level with the third floor.

When the elevator door is opened the switch 14 is also opened as is the switch 17 by the operation of the elevator gate. Now the passenger may find that the elevator is not level with the third floor; It will first be assumed that the elevator has stopped above the third floor and it is necessary to lower it. The operation of the switch 11 has, of course, stopped the elevator within the leveling zone so that if the car is above the third. floor the switch 25 will be closed, as a result of the engagement of the roller 26,with the upper cam. In order to lower the elevator, the passenger will depress the push button 23, thereby completing the circuit for the relay 3 over a path that may be traced from the supply conductor 30, relay 3, resistor 7," contacts of push button 23, switch 25',

emergency stop switch 24 to the supply conductor 31. The relay 3 is immediately energizedto complete a-circuit for the relay 5 at its contact making member 41 to prepare pointsin the motor circuits at the contact making members 42 and be traced from the supply conductor 30, contact member and associated contact making member -4l, relay 5, contactsof push button 23, switch 25,

. withthe proper floor, even tho-the elevatorgate and the doorat that floor has beenopened which disables thenormal bperating circuits. 1 By this provision it is possiblefor thepassengeroperating thecar tosee when the elevator is level so as to ascertain whether heshould portion the leveling operation and in what direction. If by some faulty adjustmentof the control or brake, the car should move in a downward direction below the leveling zone, the fact that the elevator gate and door-is openedwould be of material disadvantage were it not forthe fact that as soon as the elevatormoves below, the leveling cam switch is opened and the leveling circuits entirely disabled, thereupon, the ordinary safety precautions. are effective. h i w If the elevator should have stopped before reaching the desired floor, the operation is substantially the same as that before described That isgthe passenger when he opens the elevator gate and the floor door ascertains that the 'car' has stopped below the floor level, he willtherefore, press push button 21 whichcompletes a circuit for the relay 2 'thru the leveling switch 25 Relays ,2 and 5 are operated to bring {about the energizationof the motor Mand the-leveling of the'car with the floor; When the 'car has moved into the level position, switch 25 is opened and the relays 2 and 5 are de-energized to'bring-about the de-energization of the motor M and the consequent stopping of thecar. V U

' When it is desired to move'the elevator in a downward direction from the thirdfioor from the car, the operation proceedsfinfa manner already similar to that described. Inthe event that there is a passenger onfthe secondlfl'ojor, desiring to call for the elevator with. it standing on the fthird' floor, the operation of thepush buttonslll serves to complete a 'circuitforj the relay 3 over a path which may be traced from the supply conductor 30, relay 3, lower hatchw aylimit switch ,12,;in termediate switch 13, relay d-contacts of push button 19, normally. closed contacts 40,;door

switches-14, 15 an'd16 in: series, elevator gate switch 17, emergency stop switch 24'to the supply conductor '31: Relays 3 and 4 are energized-over this circuit. Relay 3 is energizedto bring-about the operation of the relay 5. and the motor M; as before described." The operation of the relay 4 serves to-establish a locking circuit .for itself at the contact making member and for, the relay 3 at this samecontact. 'Ihe-operation-of the contacts 3'7 serve to open a point in the normal locking circuit oi tlie relay 3. When theelevator 5 arede-energized to stopthe operation of the motor M. The elevatorcarmay be leveled at the intemiediate'fioor in the same manner as has already. beendescribed. 1

It is thoughtthat further operations will be obvious. It should be noted-thatithe relay 4 is an intermediate floor relay andis only used when the intermediate fio'or is called for, the resistors 7, 8, 9, and.lobeing'substitutedforit in other operations.

It will be appreciated that the elevator may be stopped at any time since all control circuits pass thrutheemergency stop switch 24.

Fromthe .foregoing, it will beappreciated that I have evolved a very simple and eillcient leveling arrangementior elevators in which the same control buttons may be. employed as are used .for standard operations and that the leveling circuit is effective even-thothe elevator gate and floor doorsmay be opened'for leveling operations only.

s It isto bev appreciated also that the leveling operation only occurs during the'time the operator maintains hisrlng'er on one or the push buttons and then onlyuntilthe car'is levelled. In other words, accidental movement of the elevatorprevented. and the passenger in travelling intoand out of the. elevator is accordingly free of the hazards-usually present when the elevator cage and hatchway door is open. While the'inventionhas been shown applied to a three floor elevator system,-it will be obvious that any numberof floors may be employed. 4

While this invention has been shown with an alternating current system, it will be obvious that the results noted may be accomplished with equal effect with direct current. v

Furthermore, whileautomatic push button op eration has been shown, it will be appreciated that m'y invention may be adapted to various kinds of elevator control, including car switch. I

While I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many changes, deviations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof as indicated in the appended claims. l

I claim: i i 1. Ina control system, an elevator car, car actuating andstopping mechanism for moving said car and stopping it in association with any floor,

manually operable control means for operating said: car actuating and stopping mechanism to bring'aboutsuch association, a pair of push buttons in said c'ar,'means controlled by one of said push buttons -for lowering said car until level with the associatedfioor and means controlled by the other of said push buttons Ior'raising said car until it is' levelwith'theassociated floor. I v

- 2.11m control system the combination with an elevator hatchway, having an. opening on a plurality of -fioor's, an elevator car, car actuating and stopping niechanismfor moving said car and stopping it at any floor, manually operable control means for operating said car actuating and stopping mechanism a pair of cams associated with each ofsaid floors and mounted in said hatchway, one of said cams extending abovesaid floor, de'fining'a down leveling zoneand the other of saidcams'extending below said floor and designating an up leveling zone, a pair of push buttons in said-car, one assigned to the up direction command the other assigned tothe down direction control and means including one 01' said push buttons and one of said cams for operating said car actuating and stopping mechanism to bring it level with any floor.

3. In a control system, the combination with an elevator hatchway having an opening on .a plurality of floors, an elevator car, caractuating and stopping mechanism for moving said. (car and stopping said. carat any-floonlcontrols for op,- erating said car'actuatingand stopping mechanism at any floor, an elevator, door closing-said opening'at each floor,-'a switch controlled; by said door, mechanism controlled by said switches for disabling said car'actuating andstopping mechanism controls, and manually controlled means comprising a pair of cams adjacent each floor and and a'switch actuated thereby, said means operative'when said disabling means is effective for operating said car actuating and stoppingmeans to level said car at-any floor;

4. .In a control system thecombination' with an elevator hatchway, havingan opening'on a pluralityvof floors, an elevator car, car actuating and stopping mechanism for moving said carand stopping it at any floor, an elevator gate for said car; atswitch controlled by said gate; means operated by said switch for disabling said car actuating and stopping -mechanism and leveling means operative from said car for leveling said car at any floor whenrsaid gate is open.

. 5. In a control system the combinationwith an elevator hatchway, having anopening on a plurality of floors, anelevator car, car actuating and stopping mechanism for moving said car, and stopping it at any floor, a doo-ron each of said floors'closing said hatchway opening, a switch operated by each of said doorsfor disabling said car actuating and stoppingmechanism, a gate on said car, a switch operated by said gate for disabling said car actuating and stopping mechanism and means controlled from said car for operating-said car'leveling; and stopping mechanism to level the car at any of said floors when ahatchway door andtheelevator car gate is. open.

6. In a control, system the, combination with an elevator hatchway, having an opening on a plurality of floors, an elevator car, car actuating and stopping mechanism for-moving said car and stopping it at any floor, a door on each of said floors closing said hatchway opening, a switch operated by each of said doors for disabling said car actuating and stopping mechanism, a gate on said car, a switch operated by said gate for disabling said car actuating and stopping mechanism, a pair of push buttons in said car and controlled means responsive to said push buttons for initial v operation of ,said ear actuating and stopping mechanism;to level said car at the associated floorirrespective of the condition of said hatchway doors orgate;

7. In a control system-the combination" .with

anelevatorhatchway, having an opening on a plurality oiE-fioors, an elevator car, caractuating and stopping"mechanismgfonmoving said can and stopping. it at any floor a door on each-of saidfloorsfclosingsaid hatchwayopening, a switch operated-by. each of said-doors for disabling said v caractuating and. stopping mechanism, a; gate on said'car, a switch operatedby saidgate for disabling said car actuating and stopping mechanism, a pair of pushibuttons in said car, a pair of cams'mounted in said hatchway at eachifioor defining an up and down leveling zone and-manually controlled means operative from said car including said" cams for leveling, said carat the gate and mechanism, apair of push buttons insaid car, i

apair of cams mounted in said hatchway at each floor defining an up. and-down leveling zone, manually: controlled means operative from said car including said cams forvleveling said .car at the associated floor whensaidelevator-gate and hatchway door is open andmeans operative to prevent the functioning of said leveling means inthe event said'car isnot within at-leveling zone. 1

9; In an elevator control system the combination of an'elevator car, caractuating-and stopping mechanism for moving said car and stopping it atany floor, manually operable control means for operating said car actuating and stopping mechanism a pair of push buttons in said car, means controlled by one of said push buttons for causing said car actuating and stopping mechanism to bring the car to the top floor, means controlled by theother of said push buttons for operating said car actuating and stopping mechanism to bring said car to the bottom floor and leveling, means controlled by said push buttonsfor operating said car actuating and stopping mechanism'to level saidcar at any floor. v 10.- In an elevator control system the combination of an elevator car, car actuatingand stopping mechanism for moving said car and stopping itat any floor, a pairiof push buttons in saidcar, means controlled by one of. said push buttons for causing said car actuating and stopping mechanism to bring the car to theto'p floor, means controlled by the other of said push buttons for operating said car actuating and stopping .mechanism to bring said car to the bottom ffloo'r, mechanism associated with each floor defining a leveling zone, ahatchway door on each iioor, Ta switchadapted .to be operated by each of saiddoors, meanscontrolled-bysaid switch for disabling saidjcar actuatingand stopping mechanism 1 and means cont'rolledby said push when the door is open. 11. In a motor control system, the combination with anelevator car, means for moving said elevator car including a motor; a'n electrical cir- 'JOHl I POlDOSINt I 

